[pfsb] happy halloween!

[acrookedpath]

It's that time of year again.

The inn is bustling. All manner of strange outfits have been donned (some more willingly than others). Lanterns flicker ominously in the corners, pumpkins stand sentry at either end of the bar, and every order comes complete with a handful of wrapped candies.

And -- if you're Wei Wuxian -- Madam Bar has also gifted you with an enormous array of tiny cakes, each one with a little candle stuck in its center. His second birthday at the inn has arrived, and he could not be more pleased.

(He's also wearing a red T-shirt that reads, simply, I'M THE CHAOS. Just like last year, he has set his mild confusion aside in favor of delight at the bounty Madam Bar has given him.)

Comments

[acrookedpath]

"Shijie makes the best soup," he declares, spooning up more of it the instant he's done speaking. "She would make it all the time for us at home."

Is he biased? Of course. Does he care? Not even a little!

[lotus_sister]

The rat squeaks something else at another kitchen worker, who scurries to a cupboard and then over to hold up a pen and a stiff piece of paper to Jiang Yanli, who takes both with visible bemusement.

She looks down at the paper, which shifts before her eyes to show a heading at the top that says 'Recipe.' She blinks.

"You want me to write how to make it?"

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian pauses mid-spoonful, eyeing the exchange with open curiosity.

Both rats nod vigorously. The newest arrival blinks up at Jiang Yanli with such wide-eyed hope that Wei Wuxian has to stifle a laugh.

[lotus_sister]

"I don't - I just make it," Jiang Yanli starts, before she breaks off, considering. She looks very thoughtful for a couple of moments, then smiles, bright and shining.

"If I tell you, you have to make it for A-Xian whenever he wants."

[acrookedpath]

The rats exchange considering looks of their own -- then nod again, decisive, and squeak in unison.

Wei Wuxian has to swallow hard around the sudden lump in his throat. "Shijie," he whispers, too overcome to say anything else.

[lotus_sister]

Jiang Yanli beams at the rats, then at her brother. "There. Now you have to help me, A-Xian, and you'll write it down as I tell you how I do it."

[acrookedpath]

"Of course."

Within moments he's beaming again, bright-eyed, and it is all he can do not to throw his arms around his shijie again.

"I will make sure it's a very diligent recording, so it will be impossible to make mistakes."

[lotus_sister]

She smiles back at him, and every bit of just how much she loves him is clearly visible in her face.

"I know you will. But eat your soup first. We don't want it to get cold," she admonishes, gently.

[acrookedpath]

"Aiyo, that would be tragic," he agrees, laughing, and returns to his bowl. He takes his time as he eats, savoring every sip; this might be the slowest Jiang Yanli has ever seen him eat.

There will be future bowls of soup. That eases a little of the ache. But this one -- this one, his shijie made herself, and he's going to treasure it for as long as possible.

[lotus_sister]

It does her heart good to see how much A-Xian enjoys it. She's glad the rats asked, she decides. Even if she can't be here herself, most of the time, at least he'll have this.

She sits quietly beside him, thinking over the recipe, and feels at peace.

[acrookedpath]

Sadly, no bowl of soup can last forever. Wei Wuxian's spoon hits the bottom of the empty bowl with a soft clink; resting his hand in his lap, he lists sideways to put his head on his shijie's shoulder, letting out a long, contented sigh as he does.

[lotus_sister]

She laughs softly and puts her arm around his back. "Happy, A-Xian?"

[acrookedpath]

"Very." He snuggles into her sideways embrace. "I've had soup and I have my shijie here. What could be better?"

[lotus_sister]

"Good," she murmurs. "I'm happy too."

[acrookedpath]

His smile softens. For several moments, all is quiet; just the two of them, at perfect ease in each other's company, wanting or needing nothing more.

At least until one of the rats makes a tiny, almost throat-clearing squeak that sounds like a pointed ahem.

"Yes, yes, I know, we have a recipe to write," he says with another laugh. Quickly, he sneaks an arm around his shijie to return the hug, then straightens up. "Let's get to work before it grows too late."

[lotus_sister]

Jiang Yanli laughs. "I think the best way is for me to pretend to make it - or I could make another batch?" she asks the rats, who nod. "Very well. I will make another batch, and A-Xian, you write down everything I do as I do it."

She starts to gather the ingredients from the places they'd gotten them before.

[acrookedpath]

"More soup for all of us!" declares Wei Wuxian, delighted. Pen and paper at the ready, he falls in step behind Jiang Yanli as she walks to and fro.

Every ingredient, every motion of the knife, every flick of the wrist as she adds spices to the burgeoning broth -- he notes it all, even scribbling pictures here and there to get the full experience. Wei Wuxian could have left some of it out, most likely, but why would he? If someone else is going to make his shijie's soup, they need to do it right.

[lotus_sister]

Finally, Jiang Yanli sets the kettle on the clever burner to simmer, and turns to face them. "At least half a shi on a low flame," she instructs. "Maybe even a full shi, if needed. Taste it and add salt - a pinch at a time, you can't take salt out of soup, you know - until it's ready."

She beams at A-Xian. "Did you get it all?"

[acrookedpath]

"I did!" With a final flourish, he inks the last characters and holds up the pad of paper. A good half of the pages have been filled by his detailed notes. "This should serve well for our friends, eh?"

[lotus_sister]

"I'm sure it will," she tells him, and turns to look at the rats. "Won't it?"

They squeak and nod their heads at her, and she gives a polite nod back.

[acrookedpath]

"Then here you are," he says, presenting the notepad to the rats with a small bow. "May you use it well! You will be seeing me very frequently to enjoy the soup you make."

The chef-rat chatters, straightening up to its full height with great dignity, and accepts the pad and pen.

[lotus_sister]

Jiang Yanli's smile is filled with sweet and absolute delight as she watches.

[acrookedpath]

He glances back to his sister; returns the smile, completely unawares.

"So now we have another hour to spend elsewhere!" he says. "Perhaps I could show you the library? Or the House of Arch?"

[lotus_sister]

"I'd love that," she tells him. "Either or both - but how much time do you spend in the library?" she teases. "Did you get used to it at Gusu Lan?"

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian laughs. "If Gusu Lan contained half the books in the inn's library, you never would have seen me! Every one of the thousand worlds that touches this place has at least a shelf of books to call their own -- unheard music, theories of magic even I could never dream up, stories of amazing people and creatures from every corner of the universe..."

He beckons Jiang Yanli to follow him, all but bouncing on the tips of his toes.